Jason Licht On Cornerback: “We Can Use Some Help There”
March 31st, 2025
How secure is Jamel Dean?
Is change a-comin’ to the starting cornerback position from April’s draft?
Well, go ahead and read the words from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and decide.
Today Licht perked up with the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman, who asked Licht about cornerbacks in the draft.
“It’s pretty good draft there,” Licht said. “Throughout the entire draft, we’ll see how it falls to us.
“But we can use some help there, whether it’s depth, whatever it is. We could use some help there.”
When Ira then asked Licht if seven interceptions last year sticks in the craw — not craw, CRAW! — of Bucs coach Todd Bowles, Licht told Ira, “Trust me, [with] Todd, there’s nothing Todd wants … than more interceptions.”
Asked about Jamel Dean, Licht seemed less enthusiastic,
“So Jamel, he’s had some injuries [the] last couple years,” Licht said. “He was a really good player not too long ago.
“He has high expectations for himself, we have high expectations for him. And we feel good about Jamel.”
Good? Where, as a starter or an expensive backup? Licht didn’t say.
So it sure sounded to Joe that a cornerback is coming in the draft. When and where, that’s to be seen.
Licht did a decent job of straddling the fence about Dean.
March 31st, 2025 at 5:07 pm
I’m not confident Dean can stay healthy. May need to go after a corner with our 2nd or 3rd pick.
March 31st, 2025 at 5:09 pm
They’re looking for a starter for either this year or next, so there’s gonna be a guy by the end of round 3… unless things don’t play out as they hope. I’m sure they have some day 3 sleepers identified if they can’t get one earlier.
March 31st, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Barron out of Texas at CB.
No matter what.
He is a lock down corner with a ton of confidence and talent. Without all the hype.
If you want the pressure on the QB and force more sacks, lock down the outside lanes.
CB is easily our biggest need.
March 31st, 2025 at 5:39 pm
An upgrade to the DL that adds consistent pressure on opposing QBs will make most NFL caliber CBs look good. Hopefully Redick brings that but I’m not 100% sold just yet. Get another edge or DL in the 1st and go CB 2nd or 3rd round
March 31st, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Maybe between Dean and Bryce Hall we can get 17 games, but it didn’t happen last year. I see CB and ILB tied for need #1.
March 31st, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Barron can play anywhere in the secondary but I don’t think he’s making it to 19.
March 31st, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Please draft a CB with the first 2 picks like the eagles did last year are secondary was terrible last year
March 31st, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Dean is soft.
March 31st, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Again, if you draft a corner, it doesn’t mean someone loses a job. You need depth, and ideally, like always, you don’t want to play guys early if they’re not ready. The Bucs basically need help, or at worst, depth, at literally every position on the defensive side of the ball, so everything should be on the table and you really should be drafting best player available.
March 31st, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Two DBs will be drafted (maybe an UDFA), an ILB, and help for the DLine. I’m not convinced that an OLB will be drafted but hopefully, if the opportunity’s there, they jump on it.
In Licht we trust.
March 31st, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I’d be cool with Jahdae Barron in the 1st Round. Or several other players.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:11 pm
I want Dean gone yesterday.
Davis trade last year was music to my ears.
I’d love to be rid of this overpriced, oft-injured loser asap.
He’s the last loser leftover.
Bye bye.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:21 pm
I must be listing a Bucs sleeper or somthing lol
March 31st, 2025 at 7:23 pm
No way Licht cuts Dean even if he drafts a CB in the first round. While Dean can’t be counted on to play more than half of the year, he still has enough talent to go against the opponent’s best WR.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Mike Johnson … ‘I’m not confident Dean can stay healthy. May need to go after a corner with our 2nd or 3rd pick.’
Jamel Dean played in 25 of our 34 regular season games these past 2 years, and started all 25 (73.5% availablity).
SirVocea Dennis played in 17 of our 34 regular season games these past 2 years, and started 0 (50% availability).
JL appears to endorse Dennis as our starting LB, but will only say that Jamel was ‘a really good player not too long ago’. Apparently Dean needs to get hurt a bit more before he can be endorsed as a starter. And BTW Mike, I agree with you about daftinga CB someplace in the Top-3 Rnds.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:39 pm
If porter is there in the 2nd , I think you take him..love his upside and instincts for being new to the position. Seems way mor athletically gifted and surprised me with the limited tape I saw . Cant teach his athletic ability to lesser prospects.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I wanted Dean to be cut to save money but with cornerback prices skyrocketing I think holding onto Dean is good value at this point. Average CBs are getting paid 20 plus milly.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Revel, porter and kobe bryant would all be great adds. Id love to get 2 of 3
March 31st, 2025 at 7:49 pm
@Buc Dawg drafting a CB in the first round to play soft zone due to lack of pressure should not be the biggest need. I agree that pass rush and pass d goes hand and hand and you need capable CBs to force QBs to hold longer. The problem is they currently have all day to throw with the lack of pass rush which is why they used soft zone to stay in front of the receivers and not allow big plays. They even deployed zone blitzes so often out of desparation. While I think CB is a need, they can find great players in mid rounds where pass rushers are very hard to find beyond the first. I think its Edge all day and the rest is smoke.
March 31st, 2025 at 7:56 pm
At a minimum, Jamel’s contract needs to be restructured, and frankly, a cut in pay.
He also needs to be more of a rotational CB.
We need to draft a CB in top rounds.
Frankly, I’d like to see him get cut, traded, etc. but that gives us two holes to fill at CB. That’s not good either.
March 31st, 2025 at 8:15 pm
Licht said. “He was a really good player not too long ago. He has high expectations for himself. We have high expectations for him. We feel good about Jamel.”
March 31st, 2025 at 8:21 pm
If Jahdae Barron is there at 19 they won’t be able to call that pick into fast enough.
March 31st, 2025 at 8:43 pm
I think if the corners are gone before 19 it’s a DL, there is so much talent there this year. Not knowing how they view Walker, Campbell and his shoulder or a safety Licht does like lineman, offense and defense and there are more talented DL’s to be had than corners or LB’s at that spot, assuming they don’t trade back, don’t see them trading up unless THAT GUY is there 1 pick before them. Depends on how the draft falls and how they rank their picks. I don’t have a particular person in mind just BPA and it should fill a position of need, at least I see it falling that way for us this year.
March 31st, 2025 at 9:16 pm
With the addition of Reddick I see DT as the number one need in the draft. Look at Philly. They had some monsters on their DL. Some really big and talented DT’s in particular. He’s isn’t getting any younger and if he gets hurt we have a huge drop off. We already upgraded at DE. CB’s can be had in rounds 2 and 3. We need another massive DT if we want to make a deep playoff run
March 31st, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Vea
March 31st, 2025 at 10:11 pm
I don’t think a first round CB talent will be there at 19 and I doubt we trade up. My prediction is Jamel is our starter as long as he stays healthy. We will draft a CB somewhere in rounds 2, 3, or, 4 who will compete for nickel or with Hall to be the backup.
March 31st, 2025 at 11:07 pm
We all knew a CB was one of our targets. I think the Bucs pass on Hairston, Revel, and Morrison due to injuries. We already have Dean with injury issues. I think if they land in the right spot the Bucs will take Porter, Amos, or Strong.
April 1st, 2025 at 6:13 am
The best defensive guy left at 19 may be a safety that can play lb, cb, or safety. If Barron is there that would be great. Lack of depth at corner was the reason for several big play game changers last year. I think our pass rush is in better shape than many think and slowing down the throw a half second or so will lead to several more sacks and QB hits. There will be good to ok line backers, corners and DL guys left through round 3 perhaps round 4. We have smart and dedicated scouts. I trust we will do well. I agree with best defensive guy available in round 1 and maybe round 2.
April 1st, 2025 at 6:28 am
Shh!….Its a secret Jason!
We don’t want to give away that we need help at corner!
LOL
Go Bucs!